Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and former Republican U. S. Congressman and Senator (from Kentucky) Jim Bunning has died at age 85. He suffered a stroke last fall, and had been in the hospital since then.

As a pitcher, he won 224 games from 1955 to 1971 (mostly with the Tigers and Phillies, but also with the Pirates and Dodgers); won 100 games in each league (the first pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to do so); and also is one of five pitchers (along with Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Nolan Ryan, and Hideo Nomo) to throw a no-hitter in each league (a no-hitter for the Tigers in 1958, and a perfect game for the Phillies in 1964, which was also the first perfect game in the National League since 1880).

At the time of his retirement he had the second-highest career strikeout total in major-league history (behind only Walter Johnson). (He currently ranks 17th all-time.) He was one of a handful of pitchers to strike three batters out in an inning on nine pitches. He won 20 games in a season only one time (1957), but won 19 games in four other years. He was a leader in the founding of the baseball players' union, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1996.

He served 12 years in the House (1987-1999) and 12 years in the Senate (1999-2011). He opposed the use of steroids by any professional athlete, and favored severe punishment of any player using them, including a lifetime ban for a third offense, as well as (for baseball players) ineligibility for the Hall of Fame.

JustRalph

05-28-2017, 12:37 AM

He gave some great interviews👍

RIP

Marshall Bennett

05-28-2017, 05:12 AM

An overpowering workhorse starter who'd totals would have reflected it more had he played on more respectable teams. His perfect game was a much bigger deal then than may have been now. Believe there had only been 7 thrown before his. His was one of a dozen or so baseball cards I always sought when the season started each year.
Rest in peace tough guy.

jk3521

05-28-2017, 05:04 PM

He pitched that no hitter on Fathers day , I think , against the Metsies at Shea.

reckless

05-28-2017, 06:26 PM

He pitched that no hitter on Fathers day , I think , against the Metsies at Shea.

Yes he did, jk -- a Perfect Game actually.

I didn't watch the game that day but heard it on the radio as a very young fan.

Early in the game, Mets catcher Jesse Gonder hit a screeching line drive on the 2nd base side of second, Phils 2B Tony Taylor dived at the ball. It hit him in the chest... Taylor gathered himself up and just nipped Gonder out at first. (Jess Gonder was considered a very fast runner, for a catcher).

The great announcer Lindsay Nelson said on radio: 'It may be too early to say this, but if Bunning does pitch a no hitter, that will be the play that saved it for him'.

Bunning struck out John Stephenson to end the game. Ed Sudol was the plate umpire.